Severely matted hair...

[Becca19962014]

Please don't judge.

Due to physical and mental health problems my waist length hair has become completely matted. It hasn't been washed, nor my body in years, it is so foul and disgusting that I can't even get a hairdresser to see me.

I cannot wash it and have no money to pay for someone to help me. My last hospital admission I was told to shave it all off and accept I'll never have hair as I cannot care for it and cannot afford help.

My disability has cost me everything. It took years to grow my hair but gradually I could do nothing at all with it.

It's now at a point whereby its matted at the back and the top is matted into the back. I bought a big detangler hair brush after I was told to use one on it before (but it was for thin hair not thick like mine) and back brush it with dry conditioner by an OT - that was when it became totally tangled and it just got worse. I spend a lot of time in bed lying on it and must wear a medical device which sits on my hair for at least twelve hours every day.

I spent my childhood being forced to have an almost shaved head. I was suspended more than once because of it and my family (not that I have a lot to do with them) bullied and mocked me for have disgusting long hair when I left home and grew it, even though then it wasn't anything like it is now. My experience of hairdressers is having my wishes ignored and having combs yanked through my hair which resulted in bald bleeding patches as they refused to accept a comb has never gone through my hair.

It's been years.

I've no idea what I want from this thread. I went to see a hairdresser this morning, literally to see them, to speak about it, not touch, and they literally laughed and said it was too disgusting to even touch and told me to just shave it myself at home, I couldn't have a wig as I live somewhere very windy, charged me for the advice and send me on my way. They were obviously taking photos of me and I'm really worried what for. I wish I'd never gone. There's no other hairdresser here and I'm feeling really upset. I can't really put into words how hard it was for me to go there and now I'm really ashamed.

So other than completely shaving my head, any ideas?

Sorry if I've missed this but I don't understand why you are not eligible for social services help based on the info you've given here about your needs and difficulties. The Care Act 2015 applies in Wales, no?
Social services help should be separate to benefits, your benefits are not designed to cover a care package with carers or day centre etc. Of course once the need has been established finances would be looked at to see if you should fund yourself but you shouldn't have to unless you have high income or savings of about £24000.
I'm so sorry that you are in this situation you sound in despair.

OP, I do t have any practical advice for you, but just wanted to say I get it. Many people don't understand how it is possible to be in this situation. My neighbour/friend is in a similar situation with disability/mobility issues/no access to bathroom at all and no running hot water. He hasn't had a wash in years either and relies on baby wipes when possible. His hair is veyrty much as you describe yours being. People get frustrated with him 'refusing to let people come in and help' but they don't realise that a) there often is no help available b) he's deemed to not be in need of what help is there, c) he has to pay out of his meagre benefits for any help and would have to forgo food to have someone come and wash him regularly and d) he's had such horrendous experiences with social workers, care assistants and nurses that he simply will not allow them in his home. Can't say I wouldn't feel the same after hearing some of his tales.